Healthy brain and eye development. Improved behavior and memory. Enhanced reading skills. What if children could receive these benefits from their scrambled eggs or the milk poured on their cereal?
Now, through the process of naturally enriching food products with DHA microalgae, they can.
The Problem: A Dietary DHA Deficiency
Docosahexanoic acid (DHA) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that the body cannot efficiently produce itself – it must be consumed through diet. DHA is transferred to infants through their mothers during pregnancy, then through breast milk or enriched formula after birth. When infants grow into toddlers and transition to eating and drinking whole foods on their own, however, a nutritional gap is created. Dietary sources of DHA found in fish such as salmon and mackerel are not commonly popular among children, which results in a less than optimal level of DHA intake required for healthy brain and eye function, among other benefits. Research shows the staggering statistic that only 25% of children in America are regularly consuming the daily amount of DHA recommended by experts.
The importance of DHA does not become any less significant with age. Most adults are not receiving an adequate amount of dietary DHA to balance the high ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids found in today’s Western diet. This disproportionate ratio may contribute to excess inflammation in the body, increasing the incidence of chronic disease. Plentiful levels of dietary DHA are linked to reduced risk of coronary heart disease, depression, cancer and age-related mental decline.
The Solution: Alltech’s Algae Opportunity
Alltech’s Algae Opportunity is working to fill this nutritional gap with naturally DHA-enriched foods without all of the additives and the telltale “fishy” taste found in some DHA-added products currently on the market. Now, the opportunity exists to increase DHA intake through natural, whole foods like milk, meat and eggs that have been enriched with tasteless DHA microalgae. Learn more about how Alltech’s DHA makes it from algae to your plate at www.algaeopportunity.com.
Want to Learn More? Join Us at The Health and Wellness Seminar in Lexington, Ky.
Algae and the benefits of DHA will be a focus of Alltech’s Health and Wellness Seminar at the Lexington Convention Center before the start of Alltech’s 30th Annual International Symposium. Featuring dietitians, nutritionists, journalists, retailers and community leaders from around the world speaking on the health benefits associated with dietary DHA through natural food enrichment, the event will take place Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $100 to the public. Space is limited.
The Health and Wellness Seminar will highlight: